Locking-clamp for gates and the like.



I. L. LANDIS.

LOCKING CLAMP FOR GATES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1913.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

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I. L. LANDIS.

LOCKING CLAMP FOR GATES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION rum MAY 19, 1913.

1,091,518, Patented M21131, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ISRAEL L. LANDIS,

or CHICAGO,

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ILLINOIS.

LOCKING-CLAMP FOR GATES AND THE LIKE.

To aZZ 1071mm it may concern Be it known that I. ISRAEL L. LANDIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking-Clamps for Gates and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a locking-clamp, and while it is more particularly intended for use on farm gates, of a swinging and vertically and angularly adjustable type, similar to that set forth in Letters Patent No. 918,228, issued to me on the 1st day of February 1910, for improve ments in gates, and while 1 have so shown it in the accompanying drawings, and will hereinafter describe it in such relation or connection, yet it is applicable for use in connection with other structures, and can be employed for clamping and lockingtwo or more pieces together in many devices, as will clearly appear from the following description and explanation.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a locking clamp of the above named general character which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and efiicient in operation, and which when applied to a gate, can be readily operated by the foot or toe of a person, thus obviating the necessity of stooping down to operate it by hand.

Another object is to so construct and arrange the parts of the clamp, that it can not be loosened by animals, such as by hogs rubbing against or rooting the parts out of their locked positions, and thus allowing the gate to be raised by them.

lVith the above named objects in view, the invention consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and operation of the various parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

As the invention is particularly applicable for use in connection with farm gates as above stated, I have shown it in connection with such a gate, and in order to set forth clearly the utility and operation of the locking-clamp it will be necessary to describe to some extent the construction and operation of the parts of the gate, but of course I do not herein claim the gate per 86.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate the invention Figure 1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1913.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Serial No. 768,485.

is a view in side elevation of a swinging and vertically and angularly adjustable gate with the locking-clamp embodying one form of my present invention applied thereto, and showing it by continuous lines in the positions its parts will occupy when the parts of the gate are locked or rigidly held in their normal positions. In this view one of the angular positions to which the gate may be adjusted and held by the locking-clamp is shown by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached face view of the locking-clamp showing the parts thereof in their locked positions; Fig. i is a similar view of like parts showing them in their unlocked or released posit-ions; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, but showing the clamping-lover by dotted lines in its raised position; Fig. (3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modification of the construction of the locking-clamp; Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. (5; Fig. 8 is an enlarged face view of a portion of the gate with the modified form of the clamp mounted thereon, but showing it in its locked position; Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

In the several views 2 and 2 indicate the usual fixed gate post, 3 a swinging sub-post which is hinged to the post 2 at suitable points thereon.

The numerals at and 5 designate the end battens of the gate proper, 6 the intermediate battens. and 7 S, 9, 10 and 11 the horizontal slats or bars, which are pivoted to the battens.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 5 7 and 9 of the drawings, the battens are arranged in pairs embracing both sides of the horizontal slats or bars. The battens -l are slidable vertically against the contiguous face of the sub-post 8, and are provided with oppositely mounted plates 1 Qand 13, which are identical on both sides of the battens, and are bolted through the latter. The free ends of these plates are bent partly over the lateral face of the sub-post so as to leave a space between the bent-over ends of each pair of plates so the hinges bet-ween the sub-post and fixed post 2 may pass or be passed between said ends and limit the movement of said battens against said post to a longitudinal one only. The said battens are supported in any desired position by means of a pin 14, which is inserted through a hole 15 in the plates 13, and holes 16 in the sub-post.

The frame of the gate is held rigidly in its rectangular form, shown by continuous lines in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, and in different oblique forms, one of which is shown in each of said figures by dotted lines by means of a pair of diagonal brace-bars 18 and 19, which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the upper ends of the battens 4, at the hinged end of the gate. In its lower extremity each of said bracebars is slidable longitudinally between the faces of the battens 6 and the clamping device. This clamping device, shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, consists of a clip 20, which is extended through suitable openings in the battens 6, and two of the horizontal rails or slats near the bottom of the gate, a plate 21, which is mounted on the arms or extensions 22 of the clip and rests against the outer surface of the bracebar 18, a cam plate 23, which is also mount ed on the extensions 22 of the clip, a camlever 24, which carries a pivot pin 26, extended through a suitable opening in the cam plate 23, between the extensions 22, of the, clip, and a locking link 27, which is pivotally mounted on the upper extension 22 of the clip between the plates 21 and 23. The plate 23, has on its surface adjacent to the contiguous batten 6, a cam 28, which is disposed transversely of said plate and horizontally as shown. This plate also has extended from one of its side edges a guard 29, which has its lower edge inturned and preferably circular in form as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Just below the guard 29, the plate 23, is provided with an inturned projection 30, to act as a stop for the cam lever 24, and to restrict the movement downwardly of said lever. This lever, as shown, is provided at its free end with a laterally extended handle 31, which projects over the guard 29, and is extended through a slot 32, in the locking link 27, which slot has its outer or free end upturned to form a recess 33, in which the handle 31 of the cam lever will rest when said link is in its lowered or look ing position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Just above the recess 33, of the link 27, said link is provided with an inwardly extended flange or portion 34, by means of which it can be raised and lowered by the toe or foot of the person operating the gate. The cam 35, on the lever 24, is of such shape that it will co-act with the cam 28, on the plate 23, when the lever is turned downwardly, to force the plate 21, against the brace-bar 18, which is extended between said plate and the outer surface of one of the battens 6, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, which operation it is evident will firmly secure the parts of the gate in the desired position. lVhen it is desired to release the parts of the gate so that their positions may be changed, the lever 24 is turned upwardly to about the position shown in Fig. 4, but it will be understood that this .cannot be done until the link 27, is raised sufiiciently to remove its recess 33 from engagement with the handle 31 of said lever. By employing the guard 29, it is evident that the link 27, will be protected in such manner as to prevent it being moved upwardly by hogs rubbing against the same, yet as the link 27 is provided. with the projection 34, said projection can be easily reached by the foot or hand of the operator and the link raised'thereby.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the locking clamp consists, as in the other construction, of a clip 20, having extensions or arms 22, a plate 21, a cam plate 35, which is mounted on the extensions 22, of the clip, and held in position by nuts 36, which nuts are also used in the former construction. The cam plate 35 is provided on its inner surface with a cam 37, which coacts with a cam 38, on a cam lever 39, which carries apin 40, extended through the plate 35, at about its middle. As shown the cam lever 39 is curved downward to form a recess 41, for engagement with the free end 42 of a locking dog 43, which is pivot-ally mounted on the upper extension 22 of the clip. The lever 39 has at its free end a laterally extended handle 44%, by means of which it can be raised after it is released by moving the locking dog out of engagement with the recess 41 of said lever. The cam plate 35 is provided with an inwardly extended lug or projection 45, at one of its edges just below the lever 39, to stop the downward movement of the same. In this modification the parts of the gate may be clamped together in their desired positions by turning the lever 39 downwardly to about the position shown in Fig. 8, which operation will cause the cams 37 and 38 to coact with one another in such a manner as't-o force the plate 21 against the brace-bar 18, in which position the parts may be locked by turning the dog 43 downwardly so its free end will engage the recess 41 of the cam lever. To release the parts, the dog 43 may be raised, when it is obvious that the lever 39 can be turned upwardly on its pivot, thus releasing the pressure on the parts of the gate and allowing them to be adjusted as may be desired.

\Vhile I have shown the extensions 22 of the clip as being united at one of their ends by the member 20, yet it is obvious that the member 20 may be omitted and a plate and nuts may be employed at said ends of the extensions 22 in lieu thereof. It is also apparent that instead of using the locking clamp in connection with the slats or rails, brace-bars and battens of a gate, other pieces to be secured together may be substituted therefor, and the operation of the locking clamp will be as effectual and useful.

-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a locking-clamp, the combination with a pair of bolt-arms extended through a suitable support and having a. connection at one of their ends, of a plate having a cam on its inner surface and mounted on said arms near their other ends, a lever located inwardly of said plate and having a cam positioned to co-act with the cam on said plate, and means to lock said lever in its lowered or clamping position.

2. In a locking-clamp, the combination with a pair of bolt-arms extended through a suitable support and having a connection at one of their ends, of a plate having a cam on its inner surface and mounted on said arms near their other ends, a lever located inwardly of said plate and pivotally connected to the same at about the middle thereof and having a cam positioned to co act with the cam on said plate, and means to lock said lever in its lowered or clamping position.

3. In a lockingclamp, the combination with a pair of bolt-arms extended through a suitable support and having a connection at one of their ends, of a plate having a cam on its inner surface and mounted on said arms near their other ends, said plate also having at one of its edges an inwardly extended projection, a lever located inwardly of said plate and pivotally connected to the same atabout the middle thereof and having a cam positioned to co-actwith the cam on said plate, and a member pivotally mounted at one of its ends and adapted to engage the said lever and to lock it in its lowered or clamping position.

l. In a locking-clamp, the combination with a pair of bolt-arms extended through a suitable support and having a connection at one of their ends, of a plate movably mounted on said arms near their other ends, the parts to be clamped interposed between said connection and said plate, a second plate having a cam on its inner surface and mounted on said arms near their ends adjacent to the first named plate, a lever located inwardly of said cam plate and having a cam positioned to co-act with the cam on said plate. and means to lock said lever in its lowered or clamping position.

5. In a locking-clamp, the combination with a pair of bolt-arms extended through a suitable support and having a connection at one of their ends, of a plate loosely mounted on said arms near their other ends, the parts to be clamped interposed between said plate and said connection, a plate having a cam 011 its inner surface mounted on said arms near their ends adjacent to the first named plate, a lever located inwardly of the cam plate and pivotally mounted thereon and having a cam positioned to coact with the cam on said plate and also having a laterally disposed projection or handle, a link pivotally mounted at one of its ends and having a slot terminating at its free end in a recess for the reception and operation of the handle on said lever.

6. In a locking-clamp, the combination with a pair of bolt-arms extended through a suitable support and having a connection at one of their ends, of a plate having a cam on its inner surface mounted on said arms near their other ends, a lever located inwardly of the cam plate and pivotally mounted thereon and having a cam positioned to co-act with the cam on said plate and also having a laterally disposed projection or handle. and a link pivotally mounted at one of its ends and having a slot terminating at its free end in a recess for the reception and operation of the handle on said lever.

7. In a locking-clamp, the combination with a pair of bolt-arms extended through a suitable support and having a connection at one of their ends, of a plate loosely mounted on said arms near their other ends, the parts to be clamped interposed between said plate and said connection, a plate having a cam on its inner surface mounted on said arms near their ends adjacent to the first named plate and having a guard projected laterally from one of its edges, a lever located inwardly of the cam plate and pivotally mounted thereon and having a cam positioned to co-act with the cam on said plate and also having a laterally disposed projection or handle, and a link plvotally mounted at one of its ends and having a slot terminating near the free end of said link in a recess for the reception and operation of the handle on said lever.

8. In a locking-clamp, the combination with a pair of bolt-arms extended through a suitable supportancl having a connection at one of their ends, of a plate loosely mounted on said arms near their other ends, the parts to be clamped interposed between said plate and said connection, a plate having a cam on its inner surface mounted on said arms near their ends adjacent to the first named plate, a guard extended laterally from one of the edges of the cam plate and having its lower edge provided with an inturned flange, said cam plate also having below the guard an inwardly extended projection or stop, a lever located inwardly -& 1,091,518

reception and operation of the handle on of the cam plate and pivotally mounted said lever.

thereon and having a cam positioned to 00- act With the cam on said plate and also having alatemlly disposed projection or handle, and a link pivotally mounted at one of its ends and having a slot terminating at the free end of the link in a recess for the ISRAEL L. LANDIS.

Witnesses CHAS. C. TILLMAN, A. S. PHILLIPS.

Gopies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G." 

